July 27, 2025
By Alex Gault
Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik is backing a bill that would force New York and California to roll back aspects of their state-level gun control laws and eliminate the ‘handgun rosters’ that restrict what pistols can be sold in stores.
This week, Stefanik and Congressman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., reintroduced a bill the congresswoman has supported in years past, the “Modern Firearm Safety Act.” Under the bill, states would not be allowed to require specific safety mechanisms on handguns sold in their states, like loaded chamber indicators, magazine disconnectors or microstamps. It would also codify into federal law the results of a district court ruling that has found the California model of restricting handgun sales to a pre-approved list of models and manufacturers is unconstitutional.
New York, as well as Maryland, Massachusetts and Washington, D.C. have legal limits that restrict which brands can sell firearms within their jurisdiction, although those lists are typically extensive and include almost all commercially available firearms that fit existing state law. Stefanik and Issa contend those rosters restrict Constitutional rights.
“I am proud to re-introduce the Modern Firearm Safety Act to end the unconstitutional gun-grabbing agenda thrust on law-abiding New York residents by far left Democrats like Kathy Hochul,” Stefanik said. “This legislation would ban Albany Democrats from imposing illegal handgun roster requirements meant to deter gun ownership. I will always protect American citizens’ Second Amendment rights and provide a critical check to any entity attempting to encroach on their liberties.”
Issa said these limitations often keep the most modern weapons off the market.
“These rosters impose excessive and unnecessary requirements that actually restrict access to firearms equipped with the most up-to-date safety features, and that’s why I’m proud to partner with my friend Rep. Stefanik to defend sacred rights and end these unjust restrictions,” he said.
The state Democratic party pushed back and said Stefanik’s bill directly opposes public safety.
“Thanks to Governor Hochul, gun violence in New York is down to the lowest level in 20 years and more than 10,000 illegal guns are off our streets — but Elise Stefanik wants to undo it all to score political points with Donald Trump,” said Addison Dick, spokesman for the state Democratic party. “Stefanik would rather push Trump’s extreme agenda than protect her own constituents, and New Yorkers will hold her accountable.”
Read the story in the Watertown Daily Times HERE.
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